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Thursday, January 14, 2010

Please join me in welcoming author, Kathleen O’Conner. Kathleen, grab a brownie or two and I’ll pour the coffee. Ahhh, nothing goes better together than chocolate and coffee.

Now that we’re all comfy, please begin by telling us when you first realized you wanted to be a writer.
I think I always knew. I started writing short stories in grammar school.

Were books a big part of your life growing up? If so, what books would you say influenced you most as a child?
I got hooked on Dostoyevsky’s Crime & Punishment and fell in love with the Russian novel as a kid. I travelled to Russia when I was twenty four because I wanted to see what I’d been reading about.

That’s neat! Will you share with us a little about your publication journey?
I sold a story to Seventeen Magazine when I was quite young. After that I got serious about my craft, started talking classes and went out to Iowa to attend their writer’s workshop.

Tell us about your latest release.
A Private Matter is romantic suspense where Detective Mitch Gallagher must solve a drive-by shooting where the killer left no clues.

Here is a blurb about it:

A Private Matter a Romantic Suspense from Whiskey Creek Press

Mitch Gallagher is obsessed with finding the killer of David Forjane. The young detective believes the murder’s proximity to the victim’s workplace is the key clue. Tess McConnell, a new hire, at the same corporation complicates the detective’s job though.

Unaware Gallagher is a recent widower, she comes on too strong and then feels terribly rejected when the grieving detective doesn’t respond. To get even, she ignores Gallagher and initiates some amateur sleuthing of her own. The detective suffers during this ‘cold shoulder’ treatment and eventually discovers he is more ready for a relationship than he realized. And it will take the efforts of both these characters to solve a murder where the killer left no clues.

Where did you get the idea for it?
From a newspaper clipping about an unsolvable crime.

Here's Katleen's other new release:

Men of Paradise, a Romance from The Wild Rose Press

Men of Paradise details what happens when two strangers inherit joint custody of an untrainable but adorable West Highland Terrier named Dudley. Lauren Pierce, owner of a gift-shop business, doesn't want to co-parent her dog with Yuma Hawk, the new Director of Security for the gated Florida community where she lives. She fears he will discover she is illegally raising her orphaned nephew in the age-restricted community. Also Lauren, disabled from birth with cerebral palsy, feels she has had enough rejection from men in her young life and doesn't need to meet anymore. Only Dudley, the dog, understands why this unlikely duo was brought together.

They both sound like great reads, Kathleen! Tell us what most inspires your imagination?
Watching and listening to people.

Do you do a lot of research for your books? If so, how do you go about doing it (internet, books, one on one)?
Mostly on the Internet. My husband helps me with his firearms expertise. I don’t know a Smith & Wesson from a Sig Sauer.

What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you first started writing?
There will be rough patches where you feel as if you’ll never write again.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers out there?
I constantly read and reread Julia Cameron’s The Artist Way. It’s spiritual chiropractic for the artist’s soul.

Where is your favorite place to write?
In my kitchen with a full cup of coffee.

Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what are some of your favorite bands/artists?
I love it quiet.

When you’re not writing, what do you enjoy doing?
Shopping, reading.

What are two things people might be surprised to know about you?
I publish novels with The Wild Rose Press and Whiskey Creek Press but I’m also a prolific short story writer and have had stories in Good Housekeeping, Liguorian, St. Anthony Messenger, Redbook, Seventeen and Woman’s World

Are you an animal lover, if so, do you have any pets?
We rescued a Jack Russell and he is a sweetie

Aww, I love Jack Russell’s. They are so cute! Do you have a favorite TV show? What’s your favorite movie?
I like any Sandra Bullock movie – The Proposal, While You Were Sleeping. On the Tv I like the BBC mystery productions.

Where can we purchase your books, and do you have a website?
Men of Paradise is at Amazon and The Wild Rose Press. My other books are at Whiskey Creek Press and fictionwise. My website is http://www.gottawritenetwork.com/kathleenoconnor.html

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
I blog at http://larkjournals.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for joining us today, Kathleen, and telling us about your books. I've enjoyed getting to know you better and look forward to reading some of your works.

13
comments:

Hi Anne and Kathy. I enjoyed this interview very much. Kathy, you have such a rich history of writing, all those popular magazines and your novels. I absolutely loved Men in Paradise and fell in love with the adorable Dudley. A Private Scandal is a must read. I'm a dedicated fan. Best of luck with all future books,Sharon

Great interview, Kathleen and Anne,I mean this - sometimes I skim interviews to be truthful. :) But I didn't this one.

Wow, both books look interesting so glad to learn about them. Also I'm impressed with you having so many articles and stories published in several popular magazines. I had one story published in Woman's World but all the rest were rejections from them.

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